白月光

Chinese

		white; empty; blank white; empty; blank; bright; clear; plain; pure; gratuitous	moonlight; moon
simp. and trad. (白月光)		白	月光
Literally: “white moonlight”.

Etymology

Originating from 床前明月光 (“moonlight in front of the bed”) in reference to the character 白玫瑰 (literally “White Rose”) written by 張愛玲 (“Eileen Chang”) in her 1944 novella 紅玫瑰與白玫瑰 (“Red Rose, White Rose”). Popularized by the 2018 TV series 延禧攻略 (“Story of Yanxi Palace”)

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): báiyuèguāng

  (Zhuyin): ㄅㄞˊ ㄩㄝˋ ㄍㄨㄤ

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: báiyuèguāng
    • Zhuyin: ㄅㄞˊ ㄩㄝˋ ㄍㄨㄤ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: báiyuèguang
    • Wade–Giles: pai²-yüeh⁴-kuang¹
    • Yale: bái-ywè-gwāng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: bairyuehguang
    • Palladius: байюэгуан (bajjueguan)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /paɪ̯³⁵ ɥɛ⁵¹ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

Noun

白月光

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see 白,‎ 月光 (yuèguāng).
2. (Internet fiction) A cherished memory of the first blush of love, pure and unsullied by reality

   他大学谈了一次恋爱，那个女生成了他念念不忘的白月光。

   He had a love relationship in college, and that girl became the white moonlight he never forgets.

   她是他念念不忘的初恋，是他的白月光，是他一生难忘的信仰。

   She is the first love he never forgets, is his white moonlight, is his unforgettable faith.

Descendants

• → English: white moonlight (calque) (used in English translations of Chinese serial novels)